On December 7, 2016, an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale rocked Pidie Jaya District, Aceh, Indonesia, at 5.03.36 West Indonesia Time. The epicenter was located at coordinates 5.25 LU and 96.24 east long, on the ground at 18 kilometers southeast of Sigli, Pidie and 2 kilometers north of Meureudu, Pidie Jaya at a depth of 15 kilometers. The epicenter of the earthquake caused the earthquake not to cause a tsunami. The earthquake was also felt in neighboring districts such as Pidie, Bireuen, to Banda Aceh, Langsa, and Simeulue Island.
The earthquake happened at 5.03 am when local people prepared to perform the dawn prayers. Strong earthquake shocks in the Pidie Jaya area have tens of thousands of people panicking and escaping. Some of them even ran to higher ground for fear of a tsunami like what happened in 2004.
A few hours after the earthquake, reports of damage to buildings began to spread, including through social media. The report consists of the collapse of a mosque in Samalanga, Bireuen; minimarket buildings and fuel stations in the collapsed Pidie Jaya; as well as splitting of road bodies in the local area. Pidie Jaya and Pidie areas also experienced power cuts, telephones, and communication signals after the earthquake. Until December 9, 2016, BNPB recorded 11,730 houses damaged by the earthquake. In addition, recorded 105 units of shophouses collapsed, 14 mosques were severely damaged, one hospital was severely damaged, and one school unit collapsed.
More than 100 times aftershocks occurred after the earthquake, with the greatest strength reached 5.0 Mw on December 7, 2016. BMKG itself had rectified the strength of the previous earthquake 6.4 Mw to 6.5 Mw.